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MacWorld has revealed that Apple is developing a new privacy enhancement for AirDrop. As per the report, the company may soon implement a PIN code requirement for users connecting their devices for data sharing for the first time.
Should Apple introduce this capability, it would represent the most significant upgrade to AirDrop since the introduction of NameDrop in iOS 18 and the 10-minute limit on “Everyone” from iOS 16.2. Notably, this 10-minute restriction was first implemented in China during a time when protesters were utilizing Apple’s platform to disseminate anti-Xi Jinping and anti-government posters.
This time, Apple’s move to enhance AirDrop’s privacy might be influenced by the European Union’s DMA legislation, which requires the company to provide AirDrop-like features to third-party developers. The newest DMA stipulations indicate that Apple needs to bolster interoperability between its software and external devices, necessitating support for alternative options to AirDrop and AirPlay services, among other modifications.
